Starter mechanism



March 26, 1935. w cARLE 1,995,765

STARTER MECHANI SM Filed July 20, 1933 Patented Mar. 26, 1935 l l UNITEDSTATES 1 STARTER MECHANISM William T.

Carle, Chicago, 111., assignor to Roy G. Fulcher, Chicago, 111.

Application July 20, 1933, Serial No. 681,245

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in starter mechanisms and itconsists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims. 7

The starter mechanism with which my invention is more particularlyconcerned is of the kind wherein the starter pinion is manually movedinto initial engagement position with the associated fly wheelring gearand is automatically 10 moved into complete driving engagement positionwith said ring gear by the driving action of a shaft driven by thestarting motor, the motor being energized at about the time the pinionreaches such initial engagement position.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedconnection between a shaft driven by the motor and the pinion so thatduring the initial movement of the pinion toward the ring gear, shouldthe teeth thereof happen to meet head-on, the pinion can turn slightlywith respect to the shaft so as to be guided into proper engagement withthe ring gear.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism of thiskind, a novel pin and slot connection between the pinion and motordriven shaft, whereby after the pinion has been manually moved intoinitial engagement position with the ring gear, and the shaft isrotating, the pinion is further moved thereby into complete engagementposition with the ring gear, the said connection also operating to causea disconnection between said pinion and ring gear when said ring geardrives the pinion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of thiskind, wherein the manually operable means for moving the pinion intoinitial engagement position with the fly wheel ring gear, also closes aswitch for energizing the starting motor, said means being furtheroperable to manually open the switch should the engine refuse to start.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others,together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear asI proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a starter mechanism embodying myinvention with the parts in their off positions.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts shown in the positionsthey assume after the pinion has been manually moved into an initiallyengaged position with the fly wheel ring gear.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 T

opposite the pinion proper.

showing the pinion when in full driving engagement position with the flywheel ring gear.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the pinion and shaftdriven by the motor the plane of the section being indicated by the line4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating more particularly and on anenlarged scale, a certain slot in the starting motor pinion.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawing:

1 indicates as a whole an electric starting motor suitably supported inoperative relation with respect to the ring gear 2 of the flywheel ofthe engine to be started. 3 indicates a shaft driven by the motor in thedirection indicated by the arrowin Fig. 1, when said motor is energized.As shown herein said shaft is the armature shaft of the motor.

On said shaft is mounted a pinion 4 for operative engagement with anddisengagement from thering gear 2. As shown herein, the teeth of boththe pinion and ring gear are bevelled off at their adjacent ends so thatthey may more easily move into operative engagement and avoid as much aspossible meeting head-on, when the pinion is moved into operativeengagement with the fly wheel.

The pinion includes a somewhat elongated hub 5, having an annular groove6 in that end In opposite sides of the hub are formed cam slots '7-7 ofpeculiar shape and fixed in the shaft 3 so as to have an end operativelyengaged in each slot is a pin 8. Each slot has rounded ends 9 and 10respectively with the end 9 arranged near the toothed end of the pinion4 and with the end 10 arranged near the groove 6 and circumferentiallyoffset from the first mentioned end,,in the direction of the rotation ofthe shaft 3 and consequently in the direction of the rotation of thepinion 4 when the latter is picked up by the pin 8. The rounded ends 9and 10 each have a radius approximating that of the pin 8 so that whensaid pin is engaged in either end of the slot it will fit snuglytherein. The approach to the rounded end 9 is defined by curved portions11 and 12 so as to increase the diameter or width of the slot at thisend and the curved portion 11 merges into a straight portion 13 on thatside of the slot in the direction of rotation of the shaft 3. This sideof the slot will hereinafter be termed the advancing side and the otherside will hereinafter be termed the trailing side thereof, merely todistinguish said sides with respect to each other and with respect tothe direction of rotation of said shaft.

The straight portion 13 of the slot is connected by a rounded corner 14with an inclined portion 15 that merges into one side of the curved end10 and this portion 15 is arranged at an angle with respect to a linepassing through the centers of the two curved ends 9 and 10. Thetrailing side of the slot 16 diverges with-respect to the portion 15 ofthe advancing side, from the rounded end 10 to merge into the curvedportion 12 associated with the rounded end 9 of said slot.

On the top side of the starting motor is mounted a switch casing 17having top and bottom spaced fixed contacts 18 and 19 respectively. Thecontact 18 is operatively secured to a terminal 20 to which a conductor21 leading from a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown) maybe connected. The contact 19 is connected to one end of the windings ofthe motor 1, the other end of said windings being grounded in theconventional manner.

22 indicates a movable contact associated with said fixed contacts. Themovable contact is fixed to a stem 23 having a sliding bearing in thefront and rear ends of the switch casing.- A spring 24 surrounds thestem between the contact 22 and rear end of the casing and normally actsto urge the movable contact away from said two fixed contacts.

The front end of the stem 23 is pivotally connected to the rear end of alink 25, and the front end of said link is pivotally connected to thebottom arm of a lever 26. This lever which is pivotally mounted as at 27includes a power arm 28 to which a rod 29 is connected. This rod extendsthrough the instrument board of the vehicle and is provided with a knob29a whereby the lever may be actuated from a position convenient for thedriver.

In the link 25 between its ends, is provided a longitudinal slot 30 inwhich is located a cushioning element 31 in the nature of a helicalexpansion spring, fixed at one end to the rear end of the slot. Thisspring is anchored at its other end to a cross pin 32 normally occupyinga position at the front end of the slot.

A lever 33 is pivoted at a point between its ends to a bracket 34 on thefront end of the motor and the bottom arm 35 thereof is provided with ayoke for operative engagement in opposite sides of the groove 6 in thepinion 4. The top arm 36 of said lever is provided with a yoke thatengages opposite sides of the link 25 and the pin 32 before mentionedextends through said yoke.

When the parts are in their normal inoperative or off position as shownin Fig. 1, the spring 31 so acts on the lever 33 as to hold the pinionin its rearmost position on the shaft 3 where the beveled ends of thepinion teeth are spaced a slight distance from the teeth of the ringgear.

Assume now that it is desired to start the engine of which the fly wheelforms a part. A pull on the rod 29 swings the lever 26 counterclockwiseand this moves the link 25 toward the right. In this movement of thelink, the lever 33 is caused to swing clockwise so that the arm '35pushes the pinion 4 toward the fly wheel 2. As soon as this movement ofthe pinion starts, the corner 9 of each slot moves away from theassociated ends of the pin 8 in the shaft 3.

Should the teeth of the pinion meet the teeth of the ring gear 2head-on, the engaging bevelled end of the pinion teeth will cause thepinion to turn on the shaft so as to line up with the grooves betweenthe teeth of the fly wheel ring gear. This limited turning movement ofthe pinion on the shaft is permitted by the part of greater width of theslots '7 near their front end 9.

When the contact 22 has engaged the contacts 18, 19 the pinion 4 willhave been moved into initial engagement position with the ring gear asshown in Fig. 2. i

This initial engagement position of the pinion with the ring gear, ispractically simultaneous with the energizing of the motor through theengagement of the contact 22 with the contacts 18 and 19 and at thistime, the corner 14 of the advancing side of the slots 7 have movedforwardly of the plane of the axis of the pin 8. When the motor is thusenergized, it rotates the shaft 3 and the pin will engage the inclinedportion 15 on the advancing sides of the slots. The action of the pin soengaging said portions of the slots is to cause the pinion to move intofull or complete operative engagement position with the fly wheel todrive the same in starting the engine and at this time, the pinion willhave moved so far as to engage the ends 10 of the slots with said pin asbest shown in Fig. 3. As the pinion moves'into the full or completeoperative engagement position with the ring gear, this imparts a furtherswing to the lever 33 so that the arm 36 thereof operates through thepin 32 to put the spring 31 under compression.

With the parts in this position, so long as the shaft 3 is driving thepinion 4, the action of the pin 8 on the slots '7 is to hold the pinionin said complete engagement position against the action of the spring 31which was previously compressed.

With the parts still in this position and with the engine running underits own power, the fly wheel will act to drive the pinion at a speedgreater than that at which it was driven by the shaft 3. Thus the pinionwill overrun the shaft and by reason of the action of the side 16 of theslot '7 on the pin 8, this will cause the pinion to be repelled andmoved out of engagement with the ring gear.

This repelling of the pinion occurs with a snappy action and will causethe lever 33 to swing counterclockwise, the spring 31 expanding toassist in this movement of the lever. Before the pinion returns to itsoff position as shown in Fig. l, the pin 32 will have engaged the frontend of the slot 30 in the link 25 and will cause a forward movement ofthe link. In this forward movement of the link, the stem 23 movestherewith to move the contact 22 out of engagement with the contacts 18,19, the spring 24 assisting in this action. This deenergizes the motorwhich now stops.

Assume however, that the pinion is in complete operative drivingengagement position with the ring gear of the fly wheel but that theengine refuses to start. With the parts in this position, and with themotor operating to drive the pinion, the motor would act to hold saidpinion in this position. To meet such a condition the operator need onlyto impart a push to the rod 29 and this will swing the lever 26clockwise. Through the link 25, the stem 23 is pulled forwardly so as tobreak the engagement of the contact 22 with the contacts 18, 19 todeenergize and stop the motor. With the motor in its stopped condition,the link 25 through the lever 33 will cause the pinion to move into theoff position shown in Fig. 1.

From the above it is apparent that after the rod 29 hasbeen pulled tocause starting of the engine, when the engine so starts, thisautomatically cuts out-or stops the motor. Should the engine refuse tostart, a push on the rod 29 stops the motor and returns all sition. I

The parts which are few in number are simple and strong in constructionand when assembled in the intended relation, provide a mechanism whichis positive in its action, and will seldom if ever, require serviceattention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with the toothed fly wheel of an engine, a starting"motor, a shaft driven thereby, a toothed pinion on said shaft and having a longitudinally extending substantially helical slot therein, a pincarried by said shaft and normally engaged in one end of said slot whensaid pinion is out of operative engagement with said fly wheel, saidslot having a greater width at said one end than at its other end whichis arcuately offset in the direction of rotation of the shaft withrespect to said first mentioned end whereby said pinion is capable of alimited longitudinal movement and a limited turning movement withrespectto said shaft, means independent of said shaft for moving the pinioninto an initial operative engagement position with respect to the flywheel, and means for energizing the motor to drive said shaft as saidpinion approaches said initial operative engagement position, said pinwhen'said shaft is being motor driven operating upon one side of saidslot between said ends to cause the pinion to move into completeoperative engagement position with parts to the off pothe fly wheel fordriving the same.

2. In combination with the toothed fly wheel of an engine, a startingmotor, a shaft driven thereby, a toothed pinion on said shaft and having a longitudinally extending substantially helical slot therein, a pincarried by said shaft and normally engaged in one end of said slot whensaid pinion is out of operative; engagement with said fly wheel, saidslot having a greater width at said one end than at its other end whichis arcuately offset in the direction of rotation of shaft with respectto said first mentioned end whereby said pinion is capable of a limitedlongitudinal movement and a limitedturning movement with respect to saidshaft, means independent of said shaft for moving thepinion, into aninitial operative engagement position withrespect to the fly wheel, andmeans for energizing the motor to drive said shaft as saidpinionapproaches said initial operative engagement position, said pinwhen said shaft is being motor driven operating upon one side of saidslot between said ends to cause the pinion to move into a completeoperative engagement position, with the fly wheel for driving the same,said pin when said pinion is being driven by the fly wheeloperating uponthe other side of said slot between said ends to cause the pinion, tomove out of its operative engagement position with the flywheel.

3. In combination with the'toothed fly wheel of an engine, a startingmotor, a controlling switch therefor, means normally acting to hold theswitch in an open positionya shaft driven by the motor, a toothed pinionmounted on said shaft and having a longitudinal helical slot therein, apin carried by said shaft and normally arranged at one end. of the slotwhen the pinion is out of engagement with said fly wheel, said slotbeing so formed at said one end as to permit of a limited longitudinalmovement and then a limited turning movement of the pinion with respectto said shaft, 'a manually operated member, a lever connecting saidmember and pinion for moving the latter toward and into initial:engagement with the fly wheel when said member is operated in onedirection, and means connecting said member and switch to close thelatter to energize the motor when said member is moved in said onedirection, said pin and slot cooperating when the motor is energized tomove the pinion into com-- plete engagement with the fly wheel to drivethe same, said lever in said movement of the pinion into said completeengagement with the fly wheel,

being actuated by the pinion and operating through said member to imposegreater resistance to said means normally acting to hold the switchmotor, a toothed pinion mounted on said shaft and having a slot thereinwith a longitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an anglethereto, a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end ofthe longitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out ofengagement with said fly Wheel, said slot being so formed in theportions thereof as to permit of a limited longitudinal movement andthen a lim-- ited turning movement of the pinion with respect to saidshaft, a manually operated member, a lever connecting said member andpinion for moving the latter toward and into initial engagement with thefly wheel when said member is operated in one direction, and meanspositively connecting said member and switch to close the latter toenergize the motor when said member is moved in said one direction andto open the switch to deenergize the motor when said member is moved inthe other direction, said pin and the second mentioned portion of theslot cooperating when the motor is energized, to move the pinion intocomplete engagement with the fly wheel to drive the same, said lever insaid movement of the pinion into said complete engagement with the flywheel, being actuated by the pinion and operating through said member toimpose greater resistance to said means normally acting to hold by themotor, a toothed pinion mounted on said shaft having a slot therein witha longitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an anglethereto, a pin carried by the shaft and nor- ,mally arranged at one endof said longitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out ofengagement, a manually operated member, a lever connecting said memberand pinion for moving the latter toward and into initial engagement withthe fly wheel when said member is operated in one direction, and meansconnecting said member and stem to move the latter into contact engagingposition, to energize the motor when said member is moved in said onedirection, said pin and the second mentioned portion of the slotcooperating when the motor is energized to move the pinion into completeengagement with the fly wheel to drive the same, said lever in saidmovement of the pinion intosaid complete en-= gagement with the flywheel, being actuated by the pinion and operating through said member toimpose a greater pressure upon said stem to hold the latter in itscontact engaging position.

6. In combination with a toothed fly wheel of an engine, a startingmotor, a controlling switch therefor, including, a contact engagingstem, means normally acting to hold the stem out of contact engagingposition, a shaft driven by the motor, a toothed pinion mounted on saidshaft and having a slot therein with a substantially longitudinalportion and. a second portion arranged at an angle thereto, a pincarried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of thelongitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof,as to permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limitedturning movement of the pinion with respect to the shaft, a manuallyoperated member, a lever connecting said member and pinion for movingthe latter toward and into initial engagement with the fly wheel whensaid member is operated in one direction, and means positivelyconnecting said member and stem to move the latter into contact engagingposition, to energize the motor when said member is moved in said onedirection and to move said stem out of contact engaging position todeenergize the motor when said member is moved in the other direction,said pin and the second mentioned portion of the slot cooperating whenthe motor is energized to move the pinion into complete engagement withthe fly wheel to drive the same, said lever in said movement of thepinion into said complete engagement with the fly wheel, being actuatedby the pinion and operating through said member to impose a greaterpressure upon the stem to hold the latter in its contact engagingposition.

7. In combination with the toothed ily wheel of an engine, a controllingswitch therefor, including a contact engaging stem, means normallyacting to hold the stem out of contact engaging position, a shaft drivenby the motor, a toothed pinion mounted on said shaft and having a slottherein with a substantially longitudinal portion and a second portionarranged at an angle thereto, a pin carried by the shaft and normallyarranged at one end of said longitudinal portion of the slot when thepinion is out of engagement with the fly wheel, said slot being soformed in the portions thereof as to permit of a limited longitudinaland then a limited turning movement of the pinion with respect to theshaft, a manually operated member, a lever, a compressible springconnection between said lever and said member, means providing apositive connection between the lever and pinion for moving the lattertoward and into initial engagement with the fly wheel when said memberis operated in one direction, and means positively connecting saidmember and stem to move the latter into contact engaging position, toenergize the motor when said member is moved in said one direction andto'move said stem out of contact engaging position to deenergize themotor when said member is moved in the other direction, said pin and thesecond mentioned portion of the slot cooperating when the motor isenergized to move the pinion into complete engagement with the fly wheelto drive the same, said lever in said movement of the pinion into saidcomplete engagement with the fly wheel, being actuated by the pinion andoperating through said spring connection to impose a-greater pressureupon the stem to hold the latter in its contact engaging position.

8. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, and having a slot therein with alongitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an angle thereto,a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of thelongitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof asto permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limited turningmovement of the pinion with respect to said shaft, a switch forcontrolling the energization of said motor, a lever operatively engagedwith said pinion, manually operable means for actuating said lever tomove the pinion into initial engagement with said gear and for actuatingthe switch to energize the motor, said pin then operating in the secondportion of the slot to cause said pinion to move into completeengagement with the gear to drive the same, said lever in said movementof the pinion into complete engagement with the fly wheel, receiving afurther movement and operating to hold the switch in its motorenergizing position so long as said pinion drives said gear.

9. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, and having a slot therein with alongitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an angle thereto,a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of saidlongitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof asto permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limited turningmovement of the pinion with respect to the shaft, a switch forcontrolling the energization of said motor, a lever operatively engagedwith said pinion, manually operable means for actuating said lever tomove the pinion into initial engagement with said gear and for actuatingthe switch to energize the motor, said pin then operating in the secondportion of the slot to cause said pinion to move into completeengagement with the gear to drive the same, said last mentioned meanswhen the gear drives the pinion operating through said lever to assistsaid pin and slot connection to move the pinion out of engagement withsaid gear.

10. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, and having a slot therein with alongitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an angle thereto,a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of saidlongitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof asto permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limited turningmovement of the pinion with respect to said shaft, a switch forcontrolling the energization of said motor, a lever operatively engagedwith said pinion, manually operable means for actuating said lever tomove the pinion into initial engagement with said gear and for actuatingthe switch to energize the motor, said pin then operating in the secondportion of the slot to cause said pinion to move into completeengagement with the gear to drive the same, said lever in said movementof the pinion into said complete engagement with the fly wheel receivinga further movement and means compressible by said lever in said furthermovement as the pinion moves into complete engagement with said gear forexerting a pressure to hold the switch in its motor energizing position,so long as said pinion is in complete engagement with and drives thegear.

11. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, and having a slot therein with alongitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an angle thereto,a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of thelongitudinal portion of the slot, when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof asto permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limited turningmovement of the pinion with respect to said shaft, a switch forcontrolling the energization of said motor, a lever operatively engagedwith said pinion, manually operable means for actuating said lever tomove the pinion into initial engagement with said gear and for actuatingthe switch to energize the motor, said pin then operating in the secondportion of the slot to cause said pinion to move into completeengagement with the gear to drive the same, said lever in said movementof the pinion into said complete engegement with the fly wheel,receiving a further movement and means providing a relative movement ofthe lever with respect to the switch when said lever is further actuatedas the pinion moves into complete engagement with said gear to drive thesame, said last mentioned means then acting to exert a pressure on saidswitch to hold it in its motor energizing position so long as saidpinion is in complete engagement with and drives the gear.

12. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, and having a slot therein with alongitudinal portion and a second portion arranged at an angle thereto,a pin carried by the shaft and normally arranged at one end of thelongitudinal portion of the slot when the pinion is out of engagementwith the fly wheel, said slot being so formed in the portions thereof,as to permit of a limited longitudinal movement and then a limitedturning movement of the pinion with respect to said shaft, a switch forcontrolling the energization of said motor, a pivoted lever having anend operatively engaged with the pinion, a manually operable meansoperatively engaged with the other end of said lever for actuating thesame to move the pinion into initial engagement with said gear, and foractuating the switch to energize the motor, said pin then operating inthe second portion of the slot to cause said pinion to move intocomplete engagement with the gear to drive the same, and means betweensaid other end of said lever and said manually operable means operatingto hold said switch in said motor energizing position so long as saidpinion is in complete engagement with and drives said gear.

13. In combination with an engine driven gear, a starting motor, a shaftdriven thereby, a pinion on said shaft, coacting means on said shaft andpinion providing an operative driving connection therebetween so thatsaid pinion is capable of a limited longitudinal, as well as a limitedturning movement on said shaft, a switch for controlling theenergization of said motor and including a contact carrying stem, meansfor connecting said stem and manually operable member, a pivoted leverhaving one end associated with said manually operable member and havingits other end 0 eratively engaged with said pinion, and compressiblemeans between said manually operable member and said first mentioned endof the lever for permitting a relative movement of said lever withrespect to said stem as imparted thereto by said pinion, as said pinionmoves into complete engagement with said gear so that said stem is heldin position in said switch to maintain the motor energized so long assaid pinion drives said gear.

14, In combination with the toothed fly wheel of an engine, a startingmotor, a switch to control the motor, a shaft driven by the motor, atoothed pinion on said shaft having a longitudinally extending,substantially helical slot therein, a pin carried by said shaft andnormally engaged in one end of said slot when the pinion is out ofengagement with thefly wheel, said slot being so formed at one end as topermit a limited longitudinal movement and then a limited turningmovement of the pinion with respect to the shaft, manual means formoving the pinion longitudinally of the shaft while the same is passive,from said out-of-engagement position intoan initial operative engagementwith the fly wheel and to close the switch to energize the motor todrive the shaft as the pinion approaches said initial engagementposition, the remainder of the slot operating upon the pin in therotation of the shaft to advance the pinion into complete operativeposition with the fly wheel to drive the same, said pinion in the lastmentioned part of its movement operating through a part of said means tohold said switch closed.

WILLIAM T. CARLE.

CERTEFEQATE 6F CGRRECTION.

Patent No. l,995,7t5n March 2t, 1935.

WlLLil-iiil 'l. CARLE.

it is hereby certified that errer appears in the printed speciiieatienof the the abeve umbered patent requiring een'eetion as tollews: Page 3,second eelumn, line 63, claim 5, after the syllable "gagement" andbefore the cemma, insert the Wertis with the fly wheel, said slut limingso iet'med in the pertieile thereel as te permit 0% a limitedlongitudinal mevement and then a limited turning mevemetit ii the pinionwith respeet it the timing and that the said Le ters Patent slieuld beread with this cerx'eetien therein that the same may ceniorm t0 thereeord oi the case in the Patent fliiiee.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day ei April, lit. D, 1935.

Les i ie Frazer (Sea!) Acting Commissiener e'i Patents.

